Police responded to a call regarding a domestic disturbance at 12:36 a.m. Wednesday.

Police say a man fled from the scene and later was apprehended.

The man experienced some type of medical problem after being arrested and was taken to SwedishAmerican Hospital where he died, police said.

The man’s name and age have not been released. The man’s cause of death is not known. An autopsy is pending.

The department has planned a news conference for today about the incident.

Rockford Register Star

Charges dropped against jail officer

SPRINGFIELD – Charges were dropped Tuesday against a former Sangamon County Jail correctional officer who had been accused of abusing an inmate.

Scott K. Moore Sr., 47, was charged in July 2006 with kneeing an inmate in the groin and stomach and slapping him in the face while both were in the booking area of the jail. Moore had been charged with official misconduct and battery.

Moore was fired as a result of the charges, but his attorney said Moore is asking the correctional officers union to help him regain his job.

John Milhiser, first assistant state’s attorney, said that as the case progressed, it became clear the “evidence that would be presented to the jury would be insufficient to proceed to trial.”

The alleged victim, Aaron Barker, 21, failed to show up despite having been subpoenaed to appear in court on Tuesday, Milhiser said. The state’s attorney’s office’s investigator had been trying for weeks to find Barker, but has been unable to locate him, Milhiser said.

Barker filed a personal injury lawsuit in Sangamon County Circuit Court in June 2007 against Moore, Sheriff Neil Williamson, the county and other unknown correctional officers.

State Journal-Register

Woman barred from nursing after being accused of hurting child

SPRINGFIELD – A Lincoln resident has been barred from working as a nurse for allegedly hurting an 8-year-old child.

Licensed practical nurse Marcea Johnston was indefinitely suspended after the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services accused her of injuring a disabled child.

The action against Johnston’s nursing license was taken by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Johnston denied the DCFS allegation, according to a document from the state, but no more information was available from DCFS or Professional Regulation.

State Journal-Register

Man escapes courthouse, caught ouside

SPRINGFIELD – A Springfield man already in hot water with a judge Tuesday morning is in even more trouble after he slipped out of his handcuffs and escaped from the Sangamon County Complex, only to be caught moments later on the sidewalk outside, authorities said.

Springfield police who happened to be near the county building at the time captured Darnell M. Haynes, 20, as he was trying to flee.

The incident happened about 9:15 a.m. According to Capt. Jack Campbell with the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office, Haynes appeared before Circuit Judge Leslie Graves to have his probation revoked. Haynes had been on probation for drug possession.

Graves sentenced him to 180 days in jail, and the sentence was to begin immediately. Judges sometimes allow people a few days to get their personal affairs in order before reporting for incarceration, but Haynes was told to go directly to jail.

Court security officers handcuffed Haynes and escorted him down the elevator so he could be taken to the jail booking office. But when they got to the main floor, Haynes allegedly slipped out of his handcuffs and ran for one of the front doors. Security officers gave chase.

Haynes ran south on Ninth Street, then turned to run east on Monroe, Campbell said. Security officers were chasing him, and a city officer, along with some members of a U.S. Marshals task force, happened to be in the area. The city officer was able to apprehend Haynes.

State Journal-Register

Vandals steal flags, poles from golf course

PEORIA — Vandals stole flags and poles from the greens of a West Bluff golf course this weekend, damaging one of the greens in the process.

The 18 flags, valued at $400, that marked the greens at Newman Golf Course were snatched between 11 p.m. Saturday and 6 a.m. Sunday, according to a police report.

The thieves caused about $200 in damages to the 15th green, which appeared to have been cut by the poles.

Police are investigating.

Journal Star, Peoria

Woman beaten by mob at apartment complex

PEORIA — A 21-year-old woman was beaten by a mob of people outside Lexington Hills apartments Monday night.

The woman told police she was looking for cardboard boxes about 11:30 p.m. Monday outside the apartments because she is moving soon. The woman said she ran into a 21-year-old man she knows in the parking lot, who playfully slapped her, and she slapped him back, according to police reports.

The man punched her, and a woman came from behind and pulled her to the ground by her hair. About five other people in their early 20s reportedly then kicked, punched and bit the woman while she was on the ground. When she was able to get up, she yelled at the mob of people.

A man, not the one who originally slapped her, pulled up his shirt and revealed a black handgun, according to police reports. He asked her if she was done yelling. If not, she "could have some of this," he told her, pointing to the gun.

The woman went back to her apartment and called police. According to reports, the woman had a bite mark on her chest and thigh and scratches on her chin and cheeks.

Journal Star, Peoria

Restaurant owner accused of writing multiple bad checks

PEORIA HEIGHTS – The owner of a recently opened restaurant and bar in the Heritage Square shopping center was arrested Monday after allegedly writing more than $30,000 worth of bad checks.

Kranthi K. Akula, 27, is being held at the Peoria County Jail on four felony counts of deceptive practice, fraud.

Complaints on Akula, owner of Kkolers Resto-Bar started trickling in this weekend after some checks he wrote were declined because of insufficient funds, according to police.
Lincoln-based food supplier Roger Sysco Foods recently reported that a check for $6,122 Akula wrote on May 2 bounced. A credit manager with Sysco told police Akula owes more money, but this was the first bad check.

When Akula was questioned Monday, he told detectives he was aware of the bad check and was planning to sell 49 percent of his business to make up the payments, according to a police report.

He was arrested later Monday after several others filed reports on bad checks.

Checks in the amount of $4,455, $4,385 and $4,385, which were written by Akula for rent on the restaurant, also were returned uncashed to Heritage Square Development Co.

The company filed a police report Monday, along with the Peoria Construction Co., which complained a check for the amount of $5,194 was also returned because of insufficient funds.

More acquaintances of the businessman filed into the Peoria Heights Police Department on Tuesday afternoon, after realizing their checks, too, could not be cashed.

Kkolers chef Steven Suits of Peoria Heights reported he was denied $2,385 in wages. Jose O. DeLeon told police Akula's check for $700 - to pay for signs DeLeon created for the restaurant - had also bounced.

Akula also allegedly wrote a bad check to pay his own rent. Dyrke Maricle of Peoria Heights told police Akula bounced a check for $2,600 to pay a security deposit and rent at his home.

The bar, which opened about two months ago, was closed Tuesday night.

Journal Star, Peoria

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